The Nigerian government is set to implement a central monitoring system (CMS) for lotteries and the gaming industry across the country, according to a report in The Sun Nigeria.
Minister of Special Duties and Intergovernmental Affairs, Senator George Akume, told the National Gaming Conference organised by the National Lottery Regulatory Commission (NLRC) that a CMS is needed to stop criminal and unethical activity within the gaming industry.
He said to The Sun Nigeria: “The CMS is desperately desirable to enable the government to block leakages being experienced in the gaming industry as well as eliminate discrepancies often observed from the books of some operators.
“This will undoubtedly entrench transparency and accountability in the industry, thereby making things a lot easier for all stakeholders.”
Akume claims the National Lottery and the gaming industry can help Nigeria bounce back economically from the COVID-19 pandemic.
The West African nation is experiencing its deepest recession since the 1980s after the economy shrank by 1.8% in 2020. It is claimed that “hundreds of millions” of Nigerians are being forced into extreme poverty and COVID-19 has only made the issues worse.
On the lottery’s role in helping the Nigerian economy, Akume said: “The lottery commission was created in 2005 through the Act of the National Assembly to enable the government to properly organise the operation of Lottery business in Nigeria.
“Several stakeholders have made efforts to generate revenue for the government through the lottery, however, it is sad to note that lottery revenues continue to fall short of industry potentials due to conflict of interests.”